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(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

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~~~~~<br />

"I found and killed a group <strong>of</strong> cranium rats in the rubble <strong>of</strong> an old<br />

passageway."<br />

Hargrimm nodded, obviously pleased. "Thou have our thanks. May the Silent<br />

King watch over thee."<br />

"So... can you speak <strong>to</strong> the Silent King for me, now?"<br />

It held up its palm. "No. By the power <strong>of</strong> the Silent King, thou shalt <strong>not</strong> leave<br />

this place." The in<strong>to</strong>nation was <strong>be</strong>ginning <strong>to</strong> get rather tiring.<br />

I scrub<strong>be</strong>d a hand through my tangled black hair in frustration. "But... what<br />

else can I <strong>do</strong> <strong>to</strong> convince you that we mean you no harm?"<br />

The skele<strong>to</strong>n priest hrmmmed deeply, the lights <strong>of</strong> its eyes dimming as it<br />

thought. "Soego. Rid us <strong>of</strong> that damnable Dustman, and I shall speak <strong>to</strong> the<br />

Silent King <strong>of</strong> thy free<strong>do</strong>m. However... I <strong>do</strong> <strong>not</strong> seek <strong>to</strong> have him<br />

assassinated. Merely give us a reason <strong>to</strong> remove him from the Dead<br />

Nations."<br />

I had no love for the Dustmen, but this was going <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> difficult. Soego had<br />

<strong>be</strong>en spending a great deal <strong>of</strong> time in solitude, poring over musty old books<br />

on the philosophy <strong>of</strong> <strong>death</strong> and rhe<strong>to</strong>ric. Perhaps he was trying <strong>to</strong><br />

strengthen his arguments <strong>be</strong>fore he went <strong>to</strong> the pulpit again. With his<br />

gloomy presence always in the kip, it would <strong>be</strong> impossible <strong>to</strong> snoop around<br />

freely.<br />

Might as well explore this civilization a little more.<br />

After shopping a little from a skele<strong>to</strong>n merchant, we walked <strong>do</strong>wn one hall<br />

only <strong>to</strong> bump in<strong>to</strong> a skele<strong>to</strong>n shaking its head and giggling <strong>to</strong> itself. It<br />

guffawed and snorted occasionally, biting <strong>do</strong>wn on its bony hand <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p<br />

itself. The thing was old enough that no meat was left on its bones... only a<br />

few colored rags.<br />

"Greetings, yes!" It sniggered, puffs <strong>of</strong> dust flying forth with each breath.<br />

Well. This must <strong>be</strong> the one the other skele<strong>to</strong>n was talking about, "I<br />

understand you've got a difficult riddle."<br />

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